Advice on Research, Evaluation, Grantmaking
Research for Action has a long history of working closely with states, foundations, and other non-profits that distribute grants and contracts to develop a strategic direction, or to ensure that grantmaking strategies are effective. Working closely with our clients to understand their goals and needs, we provide a range of services including advice on how to choose grantees, including:
- how to support grantees and increase their capacity;
- how to bring pilot projects to scale; and
- how to adjust communication with grantees.
We have also provided strategic advice on how to expand the capacity to conduct internal reviews or evaluations of funded projects.
Selected Activities
- Member, Technical Working Group of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Education Lab
- Research reviewer, What Works Clearinghouse – Washington, D.C.
- Research reviewer, U.S. Department of Education – Washington, D.C.
Selected Projects
This is a national, multi-site examination of how teachers, students, schools, districts and others educational entities develop, respond to and/or utilize new assessment tools. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, RFA is working with a team of researchers to study how the new tools are utilized in the classroom; and how an array of supports, including professional development and new technology platforms, affect the implementation and utilization of the new tools.
The College Access Foundation distributes scholarships to California college students via an extensive network of community-based organizations (CBOs). RFA is working with the Foundation to examine current CBO capacity to serve as community resources for information about attending and graduating from college; and we are assisting the Foundation in developing strategies to increase CBO capacity to do so.
RFA evaluated a grant that the Donors' Education Collaborative (DEC) in New York City awarded to a set of advocacy and organizing groups. The grant supported the development of a coalition focused on influencing the debate over New York City school governance. RFA examined how these groups worked collaboratively to develop strategies that shaped the terms and outcomes of the debate. Jeffrey Henig of Teachers College, Columbia University joined RFA in this effort.
The Philadelphia Cultural Participation Benchmark Project, funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, was a collaboration of the University of Pennsylvania's Social Impact of the Arts Project (SIAP), RFA, and Audience Insight LLC. The goal of the Benchmark Project was to develop reliable information on the breadth and depth of cultural participation in North Philadelphia and Camden. In the spring of 2004, RFA conducted a series of focus groups to gain a fuller understanding of the meanings cultural participation holds for residents of the neighborhoods and the factors that encourage or inhibit participation. This data informed the quantitative research conducted by SIAP and Audience Insight, which included a survey of neighborhood residents and analysis of organizational data. The research team then interpreted findings in collaboration with local cultural leaders, to provide a set of grounded conclusions about opportunities for expanding social engagement in the arts and culture and strengthening communities through cultural participation.
The Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform and RFA developed the Indicators Framework, which is being used to document the impact of community organizing for school reform. RFA has used the Indicators Framework in case studies of five community-organizing groups nationwide to portray these groups\' achievements in moving forward the process of school improvement and strengthening school/community connections.
